Holding tool for use in wells



c. L. BREWSTER ET AL 1,758,998

HOLDING TooL FOR USE IN WELLS May 20, 1930.

Filed Deo. 14, 1927 Patented May zo, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i CHARLES LEONARD BRE-WSTER AND WILL-IAM PHILIP HENRY, OF HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA HOLDING TOOL FOR USE IN WELLS Application led December 14, 1927.

lo of the fact that the threads connecting ad* joining sections or casing are pitched alike throughout the string of casing, rotating the casing from its upper end in a manner to disconnect it is apt to cause disconnection of the casing at a point where litis not desired.

It is an object of this invention to provide a holding tool which can be operated in a casing to hold the casing against rotation at the desired point, thusvgreatly facilitatingV separation of the casing at the desired point.

It is an obj ect of this invention to provide a tool of the character mentioned which can be readily set or put into operation and released whenever desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character mentioned which is of simple, reliable construction.

The various objects and features of the invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical form and application of thel invention, throughout which description reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, detailed, sectional view of the tool provided by this invention, showing it within a casing and in an unactuated condition;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the tool actuated or lset to hold the casing;

Fig. 3 is a detailed, transverse, sectional view, being a view taken as indicated by linel 3-3 on Fig. 1; v, V

Fig. 4 is a detailed, transverse, sectional view, being a view taken as indicated by line 4 4 on Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view, showing a portion of the tool.

0' The tool provided by this invention is Serial No.l 24() ,064.

adapted to be operated in a Well casing 10, or the like, and includes, generally, a central body 11, casing gripping means 12, and 0perating means 13 for the casing gripping means.

Ihe body 11 is an elongate member forming a mounting or carrier for the various parts of the tool and is adapted to be applied to or mounted on the lower end of a string of drill pipe 14, or the like. In the drawings, we have shown the upper end ofthe body provided with a tapered screwthreaded socket 15 to receive the pin section 16 of a tool joint on the lower end of the drill pipe 14. The body 11 is provided with a central longitudinal circulation opening 17 and is provided with various parts, as will be hereinafter described. Y

The casing gripping means 12 preferably comprises a plurality of slips 18 slidably mounted on a tapered slip carrying portion 13a of the body 11. The tapered lportion 13a is upwardly divergentV and, therefore, oper.- ates to expand the slips upon their beingV moved upwardly on it. The slips, when unactupated, are locatedat the lower or small end of the tapered part 13* Vand suitable means isV vprovided forholdin'g them in position with reference to the part 13a. In the drawings, we have shown a helical spring 19 in the form of a band surrounding the slips to hold them together on the part 13a..v It is to be understood, of course, that the outer or casing engaging faces20 o f the slips may be finished in any suitable manner to have the desired gripping action on the interior of the casing 10.

The operating means 13, provided to actuate or move the slips 18, includes a nut 21 adapted to be moved longitudinally by rotation of the body 11, an operating connectionbetween the nut and the slips, and means frictionally engagingthecasing to hold the nut against rotation. The ,nutA 21 is carried by or on threads 24 formed on the body 1 1 below the tapered slip carrying portion 13a. The desired connection may be established between the nut and slips in any suitable Inanner; for instance, links 30 may be used for this purpose. In the.4 drawings, We have connection of the links with the nut and slips allows for free expansion of the slips as they are moved upwardly on the tapered body part 13a. The nut 21, when in the unactuated position, holds the slips at the lower end of the part 18, as shown in Fig. l and is in engagement with a stop 33 on the lower end of the body 11. The adjoining ends of the nut and stop are provided with helical faces terminating in shoulders 34 transverse of the faces which abut to stop the nut.

The means provided for holding the nut 21 against rotation includes a plurality of springs 40, similar to the springs employed in the tail piece, connected with the nut to frictiona-lly engage the interior of the casing 10. In the preferred construction, a tubular extension 41 is applied to the nut to project downwardly therefrom. This extension 41 forms a carrier for the springs 40. lThe springs are designed and proportioned to normally frictionally engage the interior of the casing 10 to resist movement therein.

In using the tool, it is applied to the lower end of a string of drill pipe 14 and lowered into the casing 10 to the desired point, the parts being in the unactuated position, as shown in Fig. 1, as the tool is lowered into place. To set or actuate the tool so that it will hold the casing 10, the drill pipe 14 is rotated, for instance, in a right hand direction, causing the body 11 to turn within the nut 21 which is held against rotation by the springs 40. This turning of the body in the nut causes the nut to move upwardly on the body, forcing the slips 18 upwardly until they engage or grip the interior of the casing 10. Then the casing 10 is thus gripped by the tool, the section engaged by the tool can be held against rotation by holding the drill i s pipe 14 against rotation. Vhen an operator has thus engaged a part of the casing 10 within the well and holds it through the drill pipe 14, he can back off or release the casing 10 above the held section by rotating it in the direction necessary to release it. In practice, this will ordinarily be in a left hand direction. When the desired operation has been performed, the holding tool can be released by reversing the direction of rotation of the drill pipe 14, for instance, by turning it in a left hand direction. This causes the body to move upwardly with reference to the nut, thus releasing the slips and allowing the tool to be freely withdrawnfrom the casing.

Having described only a typical preferred form of our invention, we do not wish to limit ourselves to the specific details set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in cluding a body adapted to be rotated, slips carried by the body operable to engage the casing, a member connected with the body through screw threads and operable through rotation of the body relative to the said member to actuate the slips outwardly, and means 5@ in connection with said member to hold it against rotation, the body having a longitudinal opening for circulation.

2. A tool for engaging a well casing including a body adapted to be rotated, slips carried by the body operable to engage the casing, a member screwthreaded to the body, links connecting the slips with said member, and means in connection with said member to hold it against rotation.

3. A tool for engaging a well casing including a body adapted to be rotated, slips carried by the body operable to engage the casing, a member connected with the body through screw threads and operable to actuate the slips, a stop on the body for said member, the stop and said member having transverse cooperating shoulders and means in connection with said member to hold it against rotation.

4. A tool for engaging a well casing including a body adapted to be rotated and having a tapered portion and a threaded portion, slips operable on said tapered portion, a nut operable on said threaded portion and opcrag tively connected with the slips, and means for holding the nut against rotation.

5. A tool for engaging a well casing including a body adapted to be rotated and having an upwardly divergent tapered portion F,

and a threaded portion below the tapered portion, slips operable on said tapered portion, a nut operable on said threaded portion and operatively connected with the slips, and means for holding the nut against rotation.

6. A tool for holding a well casing including a body adapted to be rotated and having an upwardly divergent tapered portion and a screw threaded portion below the tapered portion, slips on the tapered portion, a nut on the threaded portion, links connecting the slips and nut, an extension on the nut, spring members carried by the extension to frictionally engage the casing, and a stop on the'body for the nut.

In witness that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names this 9th day of December, 1927.

CHARLES LEONARD BREVVSTER.

WILLIAM PHILIP HENRY. 

